The Minister for housing issued a directive to local authorities to rezone land. However, there is an opportunity for developers to abuse this. They could buy land that is not currently zoned for housing and sit on it to wait for a change in zoning. The Coldcut site, which is owned by Dublin Bus members, is up for sale. This site is over 10 ha. It straddles north Clondalkin and Palmerstown. Many local soccer clubs use this facility. The all-weather pitches are always extremely busy. I attended a public meeting this week with Collinstown football team, Palmerstown Football Club, North Clondalkin Running Club and Clondalkin autism parents. They all want to see these lands remain as an amenity for the people of north Clondalkin and Palmerstown. There will be a public protest on Sunday morning. I am aware that South Dublin County Council is very interested in this site but it could be outbid by a private developer. Is there anything in the directive to local authorities to rezone land that could prevent developers from land hoarding and sitting on land, givne once this amenity is gone, it is gone forever?

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I take from his contribution the depth of feeling there obviously is in his community in relation to this and all of the sports clubs, autism families and others that he highlighted. In light of his raising it I will ask the Minister for housing, Deputy Browne, and the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, to take a specific look and to come back to him with an informed view on this. The Government has taken a number of measures to prevent land hoarding, as the Deputy called it, including the residential zoned land tax. We are also going through a process of meeting with chief executives of country councils individually, that is, myself, the Taoiseach and the Minister for housing. I will arrange that we meet South Dublin County Council shortly. I will come back to the Deputy.